Calibrachoa plant named ‘Cal Paicoras’

ABSTRACT

A new  Calibrachoa  plant particularly distinguished by coral flowers with light pink margins and darker red mid-veins, early and continuous flowering, narrow, dark green foliage, good vigor, semi-upright to later prostrate or trailing plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Calibrachoa sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Cal Paicoras’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Cal Paicoras’. The new cultivaroriginated from a hybridization made in July 2003 in Gilroy, Calif. Thefemale parent was the red-purple with cream margins-flowered Calibrachoaplant ‘Cal Rostar’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,772), while the male parentwas the scarlet-flowered Calibracho plant ‘Cal Scaredtwo’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 16,771). The seeds produced by the hybridization were sown inJanuary 2004 in Gilroy, Calif. A single plant selection was chosen forfurther evaluation and for asexual propagation in April 2004 in Gilroy,Calif.

The new cultivar was created in 2003 in Gilroy, Calif. and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissueculture in Gilroy, Calif. Andijk, The Netherlands and Hillscheid,Germany over a three-year period. The plant has also been trialed atGilroy, Calif. Andijk, The Netherlands and Hillscheid, Germany. Thepresent invention has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in theEuropean Union on Feb. 26, 2007 and in Switzerland on Oct. 30, 2006.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Gilroy, Calif. and Hillscheid, Germany.

-   -   1. Coral flowers with light pink margins and dark red mid-veins;    -   2. Narrow, dark green foliage;    -   3. Good vigor;    -   4. Semi-upright to later prostrate to trailing plant habit; and    -   5. An early and continuous flowering response.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are ofwhole plants about 20-weeks old, grown in a greenhouse in Hillscheid,Germany. The potted plant photograph was taken in May. The basket plantswere moved outside to grow in the summer and the photograph was taken inAugust.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the mature flowers.

FIG. 2 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, andfoliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Cal Paircoras’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inGilroy, Calif. The plant history was taken on 16-week old plants grownin 6-inch pots in a greenhouse in the spring season in a trial setting.The plants had one plant growth regulator treatment and one terminalpinch after cuttings were transplanted to the 6-inch pots. Colorreadings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Colorreferences are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001). Texture descriptiondata was viewed with a dissecting microscope.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Botanical.—Calibrachoa sp.        -   Common name.—Calibrachoa.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Cal Rostar’, a red-purple with cream            margins-flowered Calibrachoa plant (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            16,772).        -   Male parent.—‘Cal Scaredtwo’, a scarlet-flowered Calibrachoa            plant (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,771).-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Semi-upright and decumbent (initially spreading to            later prostrate and trailing).        -   Habit.—Good vigorous habit, well-branched, full plant; early            and continuous flowering response.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—8.0 cm to 12.0            cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—45.0 cm to 55.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—10 weeks.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Full sun; used as a hanging            plant, in mixed container plantings, mass planting in a bed.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—18 to 23 days.        -   Root description.—White, fibrous.-   Stems:    -   -   Length of basal branches.—24.0 cm to 26.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.15 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 144B.        -   Texture.—Glandular hairs of various sizes.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Pedicel color.—RHS 144A.        -   Pedicel length.—1.5 cm to 2.7 cm.        -   Pedicel diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Pedicel texture.—Glandular hairs of various sizes.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; upper leaves sub-opposite.        -   Size.—Length: 2.0 cm to 2.1 cm. Width: 0.7 cm to 0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Slightly rounded to obtuse.        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 137B to RHS 137C. Lower            surface: RHS 137C. Mature: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower            surface: RHS 143B.        -   Texture.—Glandular hairs.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—RHS 144B, mainly at midrib, otherwise            indistinct.        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.15 cm to 0.2 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color:            RHS 144B. Texture: Many glandular hairs of various sizes.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Size.—Length: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 39B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous throughout the growing season;            good floriferousness.        -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary in upper leaf axis.        -   Floret type.—Funnel form; 5 lobed petals, fused at base.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—5 to 8 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Immature flower.—Diameter: Hortizontal: 2.2 cm to 2.5 cm.            Vertical: 2.2 cm to 2.4 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 53B to            RHS 53C; RHS 53B at the corolla opening; RHS 38C to RHS 38D            margins; RHS 59A mid-vein; RHS 53C veins. Lower surface: RHS            54D; some petals have a little RHS 54B on one half of the            petal; RHS 24D margins; RHS N77A mid-veins; RHS N77D veins.        -   Mature flower: Diameter: Horizontal: 2.7 cm to 2.9 cm.            Vertical: 2.8 cm to 3.0 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 53C to            RHS 53D; RHS 53B at the corolla opening; RHS 38C to RHS 38D            margins; RHS 59A mid-veins; RHS 53C veins; Lower surface:            RHS 54D; some petals have a little RHS 54B on one half of            the petal; RHS 24D margins; RHS N77A mid-veins; RHS N77D            veins.        -   Corolla tube.—Color inside: RHS 9A; RHS N200B veins. Color            outside: RHS 5C; RHS N77A mid-veins; RHS N77C veins. Tube            length: 1.5 cm to 1.7 cm. Outside texture: Glandular hairs            of various sizes.        -   Petals.—Apex: Mucronulate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire.            Waviness of petals: Very weak. Lobation: Moderate. Texture:            Papillose.        -   Sepals.—Calyx: 5 sepals fused at base and somewhat outwardly            reflexed. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire. Length: 1.1 cm to 1.3 cm. Width: 0.2 cm.            Color: Upper surface: Slightly darker than RHS 144A. Lower            surface: RHS 144A. Texture: Glandular hairs of various            sizes.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5; 2 long, 3 short. Filament color: RHS 3D.            Filament length: 0.7 cm to 1.0 cm. Filament diameter: Less            than 0.1 cm. Pollen color: RHS 3B. Pollen quantity:            Moderate.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Length: 1.1 cm. Diameter: Less than            0.1 cm. Stigma color: RHS N144A. Style color: RHS 3D.-   Fruit and seed set: No seed set observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL/COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Cal Paicoras’ differs from the female parent ‘Cal Rostar’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 16,772) by having larger flowers that are more coral in colorthan the rose colored flowers of ‘Cal Rostar’. ‘Cal Paicoras’ shorter,green leaves than ‘Cal Rostar’. Additionally, ‘Cal Paicoras’ is morefloriferous and has a taller plant height than ‘Cal Rostar’.

‘Cal Paicoras’ differs from the male parent ‘Cal Scaredtwo’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 16,771) by having smaller leaves and a more prostrate growthhabit than ‘Cal Scaredtwo’. Additionally, ‘Cal Paicoras’ is earlier toflower than ‘Cal Scaredtwo’.

‘Cal Paicoras’ differs from the commercial comparison variety‘Balcabhopi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,795) in that ‘Cal Paicoras’ hascoral-colored flowers with light-pink margins and dark red mid-veins,while ‘Balcabhopi’ had dark-ink-colored flowers with greyed-purplevenation.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant as shown anddescribed herein.